Stephen Drost and Iris Lloyd (Image: Aaron Sousa)
Ten out of 11 CUPE Locals in New Brunswick have approved a tentative contract agreement reached with the provincial government last weekend.
CUPE leadership released the results of ratification votes in Fredericton earlier today.
The five-year deal includes annual two percent wage hikes plus a 25 cent per hour wage increase and casuals will now be paid 100 percent of the regular rate.
President Stephen Drost says while the union was able to achieve better wages and that has been the mandate all along, this has been an extremely difficult journey.
“I truly believe that it should have never gotten to this level. I think government should have been much fairer to frontline workers a long time ago and should have never ever forced you out on the streets to try and negotiate wages.”
Drost calls this deal a start and notes how provincial workers have not had fair wages in 15 to 20 years.
Local 1253 rejects the deal
Iris Lloyd, the president of Local 1253, says her members who include school custodians, maintenance workers and school bus drivers, rejected the offer given unclear language over pensions.
“It doesn’t say what the new pension model could look like, whether it is protecting our defined pension plan that we currently have now, whether it is a new defined plan, a hybrid model or a shared risk model,” notes Lloyd.
She adds her members do not intend to return to the picket lines but instead have contacted the province and are ready to return to the bargaining table.
Local 1253 will meet with government
A statement from the province indicates officials from the government and CUPE 1253 will meet today.
“The ratified agreements are fair for our employees and for New Brunswick taxpayers,” said Premier Blaine Higgs.
“We were able to balance the needs at both sides of the table to find a solution that includes substantial wage increases for all bargaining groups. It is disappointing that CUPE 1253 did not ratify the agreement which would have helped provide all employees better access to sustainable pensions.”
